Review

HP source

Health Promotion Theory and Practice
J Kemm and A Close
Macmillan, 1995, £13.99

An increased awareness of the key role played by health promoters in maintaining good health has led to the development of health promotion as a discipline in its own right.

It is widely recognised that it is not necessarily a cost-effective use of resources to treat people when they become ill but better to prevent ill health in the first place. Consequently, a number of books have recently been published on the topic of health promotion, including this one.

It is both comprehensive and easy to read. The text is broken up into short, clearly titled sections and the figures and tables are easy to follow and understand. Goals stated at the beginning of each chapter. Interspersed throughout the text are a selection of short activities to challenge readers to think about the topic being discussed and to apply the material to experiences in their own working environment. A list of up-to-date references are provided at the end of each chapter, which I found far more useful than when they are tucked away at the back of the book. The index is comprehensive and easy to use.

The subject matter covered is broad and split into three sections. The first covers theoretical aspects: the history of health promotion, potential determinants of health and causes of ill-health, an individual’s health behaviour, the contribution that government can make, and the role of education in promoting health. Section two provides information on the necessary skills needed to put health promotion into practice, including planning, evaluation and guided advice on the use of health education materials. Section three focuses on settings in which health promotion can take place.

The title and content suggest that the book is targeted at anyone working in the health field but the back cover is more specific and states that it is ‘written for all students of health at P2000, degree or diploma level’. While the book overall attempts to be general in its presentation, at times it relates to nursing activities and roles specifically. For this particular audience the book will provide very useful material but it may prove too focused for others working in the health promotion field.